Another Man's Treasure

We are always surprised to see what treasures are among the spare change as it goes into the change machine. One of our most memorable collections of spare change came from an elderly man who had been a firefighter. After 50 years of saving his change, most of it pennies, his wife called and asked if we would come and pick it up. Not knowing what to expect or how much spare change we would find, MS and I brought along a few suitcases.

Upon arriving at his home very few words were exchanged. We were told ahead of time he was hard of hearing. When he opened the door to let us in he pointed to two tall black boots and another container full of change that was sitting on the floor. A sign that even though he no longer wore the boots he continued to find a purpose for them.

What he did not realize was that mixed in with the change was baby teeth. Perhaps they were his children's or his grandchildren's. Perhaps he was the tooth fairy on more than one occasion. Whatever the reason, he saved the teeth with the change. This was his treasure chest.

After we emptied the change out of the boots and into the suitcases, we thanked him, shook hands and said goodbye. As we rolled our new collection out to the car we could not help but wonder how much money we had and additionally, how many people would be helped by his generosity. With a grunt, we lifted the cases into the trunk, waved and said thank you again. He stood in the doorway watching us as we backed out of the driveway and began to make our way down the street. Perhaps he was saying goodbye to many years of memories.

I don't know what made me think about this today. Maybe it is because I struggle with the asking. I have to remember that I am asking for those that cannot. I will never forget the look on his face, and the tug MS and I felt in our hearts, as we drove away with his treasure.

And so it continues. I (we) will never stop asking! What's in your pocket? A loaf of bread? A gallon of milk?

Dorothy Goodwin

Daily Reconcilliations

I heard the word reconcile used on the news and it made me think about all the things I am dealing with at this moment.

When I heard that the economy was coming out of a recession followed by the fact the unemployment rate would probably climb to 10% over the coming year and a half...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that new home sales are up 11% which is wonderful news, but foreclosures are up as well and home sales fell to an 11 year low....How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that my mother is on her final journey here on earth but hospice cannot tell me if that means next week or tomorrow...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that there were 400 people in line at the food pantry in Lawrence this week, a 33% jump from last year...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that people think the need for emergency food is only great in the winter months and some food pantries may have to close their doors because their shelves are bare...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that my AC needed to be adjusted for $500 but now a week later it needs another adjustment for $400...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard that deflation is keeping businesses open but not profitable...How do I reconcile that?

When I leave the grocery store after shelling out $150 and realize I don't have anything to make a complete meal...How do I reconcile that?

When I heard the swine flu is expected to be on the increase in the fall and hopefully there will be a vaccine, but they are not sure if it will be enough...How do I reconcile that?

Maybe you can tell by my tone that I have had a difficult week. I am holding onto information, some of which has a direct impact in my life, and some does not. A wise friend MS told me "YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN PATH." Greater words have never been spoken and I try to live by them daily. I (we) cannot control everything that happens in life or in the lives of those I (we) know and love. All any of us can do is support one another through the ups and downs with the gifts we have available to us, so that through our darkest moments when hope is disguised as fear, and joy is a distant memory, we are comforted in knowing that we are not alone. I can reconcile that!

Dorothy Goodwin

Oh What A Night!

Gathering Change, Inc., was asked to run the concession stand during last night's Concert on the Common sponsored by the Friends of the Lynnfield Library. The band Evolution was the attraction. They are a very talented homegrown group of musicians. Given the dreary wet summer we have had so far it seemed like everyone was happy to be outside. From our vantage point near the Lynnfield Meeting House, away from the band, we got to watch all the happenings. Children played a game of baseball across the common, some danced, while others played tag. A self-defense class did a demonstration to music during intermission and the winner of the Lynnfield Idol got to sing a solo. High School students volunteered to help the Friends of the Library and ironically we all wore yellow.

As MQ pointed out it was like we really lived in a community and she was right. This is what everyone looks like when they come together to enjoy each others company on a beautiful summer evening. There was no stress on the parents faces because there was no place their children needed to be the next morning. School is out and a lot of families are on vacation. There were older folks there as well. When 8:00 came the band continued to play because everyone knew these moments were few and far between.

As far as speaking to the audience to spread the word about our mission, I was given a few minutes before the start of the concert. I had put together what they call an elevator speech. This is basically a speech covering the top ten points you want the stranger in the elevator to know about your organization before the doors open to their floor, including an additional second or two to pull out a business card. I guess people listened because by the end of the evening we had a lot of money in our collection jar and most of it was green!

Perhaps the best part for me was spending time with this remarkable group of women who have given so much of themselves to this charity. Thank you MS for coordinating this event, you did a fabulous job. Thank you to MQ, JS, SC, JB, as well as two very special friends who helped us out SB and MB. I also want to thank all those who baked for us. And thank you MS and SS for doing such a great job selling the ice cream and slush and to BQ for helping with the set-up. Thank you to all the children who helped and it was beautiful to see you all getting along. A few of our members could not be there but a big thank you goes to YB for our beautiful table display. MS and MT you were missed.


What I took away from last night is that Gathering Change Inc., is also a community of families whose values and priorities say volumes about what is important in our town and in our world.

Oh What A Night!

Dorothy Goodwin

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Yesterday the news was very unsettling with the announcement that the unemployment rate is up the 9.4%. The highest in over 25 years. I was just a kid then, ok so I was 26 years old, to me that is a kid. Back then if you lost your job eventually you would find a new one and unemployment benefits seemed to be enough. We did call it a recession, but for some reason it did not seem as bad as this one. There are more of us and less opportunities for employment. More jobs have been sent to other countries where labor is cheaper and the jobs that are available to us are few and far between. You didn't need to make a huge salary back then to support yourself or your family. Today the cost of living has morphed into something that is unsustainable without a good paying job with benefits.

Everyone is wondering what is going to happen. How much worse is it going to get? For those that are about to run out of unemployment benefits will they lose their homes, how will they eat, where will they go?

Last night I watched the Wizard of Oz and I could not help but feel Dorothy's optimism for a better life when she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow. This song was written in 1939. What she didn't know at the time was that her life was pretty good, except for Miss Gulch, of course! She had a home, food, family, friends and love. What else is there?

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Dorothy
Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?

Dorothy Goodwin

What If?

Recently my son A was married. The time between his birth and his marriage seem like a blink of an eye. My daughter K in now looking for an apartment to start her independent life. She has been living at home since graduating from college a year ago. From the moment they were born my husband and I have loved and nurtured them with the tool box we had available to us. They have grown into thriving, independent, compassionate, loving, happy adults.


Another bedroom will soon be empty except for the few items left to identify whose room it was. As A and K move on to the next chapter in their lives my husband and I must do the same. Although this is the natural progression of life, it has not been easy for us to let go. I can honestly say there is nothing, and I mean nothing, more important to us than our children. So when I hear that 1 in 10 children in our State are hungry the first thing that comes into my mind is "What if they were mine?"

Dorothy Goodwin

I Believe!

I know the calendar date is July 1, 2009, but it feels more like April. The endless days of sunless skies, foggy mornings, heavy showers, cool temperatures and water soaked flowers is a lesson in patience. My neighborhood in summer is usually noisy with the sound of children playing outside...but not this summer. I saw an ice cream truck go by yesterday but there was no bell announcing itself. We all know that the sun is sitting up above the clouds and that gives me hope. I know in time it will show itself again. In New England we have a saying..."Wait five minutes and the weather will change."

The biggest challenge we face at Gathering Change, Inc., is to change the minds of those who do not believe that the needs exist in our communities because they do not see it. "Out of sight out of mind." Emergency food needs are just as great in the summer as they are in the winter. The need for emergency food assistance is up over 30% from last year. (before that it was up 50%). Why is this not front page news? Just as this weather is relentless so is the need for food. How do WE at Gathering Change, Inc., convey that in a way that people understand? We believe that for every mind we change, we also change a life!

Please feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear from you!

Dorothy Goodwin